Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Outsiders.
DUDES, sorry for the delay. I'm having a few rough weeks. I'm not sure when I can update again, sorry
-Kathrine
(Language, talk of violence for warning)
Keep Moving
Overreacting
When Tim showed up later that day, I stayed close to him. My mind buzzed with the information that I had received from Julie hours before. As we drove down the street, he glanced at me warily.
"Ya okay? You haven't said anything since I've picked ya up." I nodded my head, thinking back to the conversation.
Flashback
"Julie, what is this all about?" she gave me a nervous smile after taking a glance at Ruth.
"First off, I want to apologize for all that has happened to you in the last year. Not just for what I've said and done to you, but everything. I'm sorry about your parents and your family's hardships. I haven't been the best person ever and I realized that I deserved to get my hair chopped off and get a few hits from you. That's what I always liked about you Lucy, you were never afraid to put me in my place. Even when we were friends you would remind me to be a better person. I'm sorry things went down like that."
The girl look genially sincere with everything she said. Her apologies seemed to really mean her words. I raised my eyebrow at her, wondering what the hell she was doing.
"Just get on with it Jules." I called her Jul for the first time since we had been friends. It was just out of instinct but when I did it, her eyes grew their size.
"You haven't called me that since…." closing her eyes, she shook her head. I noted that Ruth was staring at me the entire time as I sat next to her. It felt weird and I almost told her to lay off.
"That's another thing I love about you. Even though so much shit has happened, you always act….like yourself. Like even though we are the best of buddies, you still call me by my old nickname. You're the only one that called me that, ya know? I miss the old days."
"Can you please just tell me what you came her to tell me?" I was getting annoyed. This wasn't some reunion of some sort! Even though I have a rule, 'Once a friend of mine, always a friend.'. Even though I wouldn't hang out with Julie, or like her for that matter. I still cared about her in some unconscious way. Same with Rocky. I would never hang with her ever again, but I would still protect her if it was needed. That's just the way I am, even if no one understand it.
"Okay, sorry. Well, I came to talk to you because you are the only Greaser that I might even remotely trust. No offense." I put my hand up signally I didn't care.
"But I got kind of scared. As much as I don't care about you or Greasers…I just don't think this is right." she took a bite of her fruit with a shake of her head.
"Brain and his friends were talking about jumping some Greasers last night. They didn't go but they are talking about doing it for fun sometime soon. It just freaked me out that they would just go hurt someone without a reason. Just to show how tough they are against the Greasers."
"Why are you telling me this? Socials jump Greasers everyday, Jules. They fight because they don't like each other. They scream at each other form across the street just to piss the other one off. That's just the way it is. There is nothing you or I can do about it." I explained to her the way things were. Things neither of us could change that.
She bite her lip like she wasn't telling me all the information she wanted to. Her face flushed slightly with nervousness as she took a bit of fruit again. I stared her down, waiting for her to continue.
"Well, I know that Luc." there she goes with a nickname now. Except everyone calls me that at least once a day, so it doesn't mean that much to me.
"It's just the way they sounded." Ruth chimed in for the first time. I looked over at her mouse like features. Her tiny nose that pointed at me even though I didn't want it to. The girl's eyes were bug like, really big and green. I looked to Jules then back to Ruth.
"They sounded like they were going to organize, maybe start a rumble or something. Or just attack without warning. Its really hostile and….scary." out of all the years that I've know Ruth, that is the most I have ever heard her speak.
"So what do you want me to do about this?"
"I just want you to warn all you friends or whatever. I don't really care but I just don't want Brain to become like that. I don't like seeing him like that."
"I don't like seeing him at all." I muttered to myself. Ruth burst out laughing because she was the only one to hear me say that. She smiled at me with a creepy mouse grin that she has.
"I agree." she mumbled while she laughed. Julie looked at us strangely, but ignored her weird friend.
"I umm…I haven't mentioned this…but I think I should. They were going to go after your brother…what's his name?" she pondered.
"PONYBOY!" I stood up as she told me this. She shook her head no.
Calming down slightly, I sat back down. "Sodapop?"
"That's his name." she pointed to me with a bite of fruit. "They said they were going after him and some other guy first. Said that they ran into them the other day and argued over some stuff. Brain seemed really sore about the encounter. I fear for your brother."
"Oh you do!" my face became enraged. "If I were you, I would fear for your boyfriend. Because if I ever see him even get near my Twin, I will personally kill him!"
"Calm down Lucy." she huffed out to me, looking around to make sure no one was looking.
"Who was the other guy they were going after first?"
"I don't know. They just kept talking about him, but never used a name." I breathe a frustrated sigh.
"Just warn them okay. Don't tell anyone I was here." I scooted out of the booth while she handed me money for her half eaten fruit and Ruth's pancakes. For a moment she looked at me longingly that left through the door.
I wanted to go find Brian myself, beat the shit out of him. One thing was certain, I had to inform all the gangs. They will let other gangs know. They will let the others know. Greasers have gangs, and very different kinds of personalities…but we all stick together when push comes to shove. That's what we needed to do now, organize like they are. I quickly turned to Tim, really to tell him all about the conversation. But soon declined. As we pulled up to my house, I looked over at him with a serious face. He smirked at me.
"See ya Louie." I stepped out of the car, wondering what to say. I leaned into the open window.
"Tim?" he looked over at me again. "I just wanted to tell you to tell your boys to look out. Socials are fixing to jump whoever they see."
He gave me the same serious look. "I will Louie. Don't go out alone. Don't forget we got your back. Same to your family and the gang." I nodded.
"Thanks for the ride Tim." he drove off after that, not looking back. Tim knew as well as I did that I was serious. He know what when something like this happened, someone got killed. Or arrested. Everyone gets hurt during this time, even adults. Everyone looses something.
As I entered the yard, I stared forward. My fear was seeping in. I wasn't scared for myself. Just for everyone else. And this is such a horrible time too. I got all my switchblades taken away. As I stood in my front yard, Steve came flipping over to me from the front door. When he was in front of me, he smiled. The smile disappeared when he noticed my blank stare.
"What's the matter with ya?" he mumbled to me. I just gave him a hug, because I needed one. Steve surprisingly hugged back, it felt nice.
When I pulled apart, I passed him to move in the house. There was a lot on my mind now, so I wasn't really paying attention to anything. I tripped over Sodapop and Pony wrestling in the living room. Steve entered after me, still confused about my actions. They stopped fighting and looked me over on the ground. Soda was in my face, asking if I was alright. Immediately, I grabbed his head and pulled him into an uncomfortable hug. He pulled me off the ground, and I kept hugging him.
He was going to be jumped if he wasn't careful. If all of us weren't careful. I don't know what I would do if he was hurt. Or anyone else for that matter. I couldn't handle it. Than as I pulled apart, I saw Pony. I gave him a hug as well, he was hesitant to hug back, but he eventually did. When I looked around the room, I saw Johnny on the couch. He looked frightened that he was next, so I waved him over. He hugged me before I hugged him.
I looked at all my boys in the room, I wanted them all to be here. Darry, Two-bit, and Dally were absent. I wanted everyone to be there together so we could be safe together. At that moment I really needed to see Darry.
"I need to see Darry." they looked at me funny.
"What is going on with you Lucy? You were fine earlier. What happened?"
"I…I need to see Darry." I left the room and changed clothes. When I went back out, everyone was still where I left them. They were talking hush like so I couldn't here. I coughed to get there attention.
"We are going to go see Darry. Everyone is going." I told them as I pushed them out the door.
Pony whined. "I don't want to. Johnny doesn't either."
"I want everyone to go." I shoved them into Steve's car. I pointed ahead and yelled at Steve. "Drive!"
He hurried to get the key in the ignition. I looked back at my brother and Johnny in the back seat. He had his arms crossed, he looked upset. Baby Brother doesn't know I'm doing this for his own good. I have to be there to protect them. I looked over at Soda to my right, he eyed me strangely. Shrugging my shoulder, I glanced out the window. We were driving to Darry's work, as planned. Just as we were turning onto another street, Two-bit was walking by himself. He seemed to be enjoying himself with a beer in his hands. I yelled again.
"Stop the car." the car leeched forward as it screeched to a stop. I opened the side door, jumping over Sodapop. Everyone looked at me as I ran up behind Two-bit.
"Two-y!" he turned around with his grin. I quickly gave him a hug, he didn't say anything at first. At first I was just relieved he was alright, but then I wanted to keep him that way. Pulling apart, he started to talk to me.
"Luc! How's it….WOAH!" I practically lifted him as I dragged him over to the car. With a firm grip, I shoved him in the backseat. Everyone looked at me as I entered the front seat.
"Crazy…"
"If you say bitch, you will regret it Keith." I only call him Keith when I really mean business, which isn't often.
We were still stopped at the intersection. "Drive, Steve." again he quickly put it in gear and sped off.
"Lucy, what is your deal? First you hug us to death. Then, you force us to go places." Ponyboy said from the backseat. I mumbled to myself as we drove to Darry's work.
"Are you even listening to me!" he yells.
"I have to protect you guys!" I screamed back. They all looked at me funny, even Steve. I pointed to the road for him to not look at me.
"Pay attention to what you are doing." he quickly did what he was told, once more.
"From what?" Johnny wondered for everyone out loud.
"Everyone else." I gulped as we pulled up to Darry's work sight. He was mixing concrete when I flew out of the car. He saw me and immediately thought something was wrong. Well, there was something wrong, but nothing do major….I guess. He jumped over to me.
"Who's hurt…what's wrong?" he demanded.
"No one yet, I just…I needed to see you." I gave him a long sweaty hug. He didn't really hug back, because he was all dirty. I didn't care though. I just wanted to protect him and save him. Also I needed his protection. His warmth.
"What's going on Lucy?"
"I'm scared Darry." I admitted. "The Socials, they are going to jump whoever they see now. They are coming over to our territory to find people to hurt. People like those five boys in that car over there." I pointed to Steve's car full of five baffled boys. Darry glanced over.
"People like you and me. And Sodapop!" he looked at me funny.
"They want to hurt him Darry. One of them told me. They are going to go waiting for him to be alone! They will hurt him!" I repeated becoming hysterical with myself. Darry shook his head at me.
"We wont let that happen Lucy."
"I know! That's why I need you to come with me now! I need to protect you Darry. And we need to protect them!"
"Lucy, you need to calm down. It's okay, alright?" he looked at me funny.
"No, I need everyone to be safe."
"I know you do." he nodded at me, taking off his work gloves. "I'll be right back. Tell Sodapop, to come here." I ran over to the car while Darry went over to talk to his boss.
"Darry needs to talk to you Soda." I told him. He got out of the car, and I took his place quickly. I bit my nails while I sat there. Watching both of my older brothers very closely. They both walked back over, looking very worried.
"Lucy, me and you are going to go see Ruth." Darry said in a firm voice. Ruth, I don't want to see Ruth. I talked to her and Julie hours ago. I already have all my information, I don't need anymore.
"Lets go. The rest of you guys, go back home. Here." he handed Soda five bucks. "Get everyone a burger for their trouble."
What trouble? They needed to stay with me. I needed to be with them. Darry, is horribly confused. He took me by my wrist and quickly took me over to the truck on the other side of the yard. I hoped into the cab of the truck, confused at why we were going to go see Ruth. I didn't want to see her. Then it clicked in my head. He wasn't talking about Julie's Ruth…he was talking about Ruth Ruth.
